By Zach Patberg
When their villain appeared, he introduced himself as Rapscallion P. Sinister. “But you can call me Mr. Sin!” he sneered.The crowd of seated children erupted in boos.”Through faith we are kept safe by God's power!” Bibleman said. “Ephesians 3, verse 7!”Sabers clashed. Grunting under the pressure, Bibleman shouted, “His strength works power into me! Colossians 1, verse 29!” Several more bolts of scripture from the Bible duo and Rapscallion was felled…for now.The battle was an epic one between the Christian superheros — clad in masks, capes, spandex and body armor — and their archenemy, Wacky Protestor, who with his hired goon, Rapscallion, tries to force upon the world his invention that alters existence into one devoid of faith, Bibles, churches and even God.Bibleman's righteous efforts against such treachery have been followed by millions of Christian upstarts on television, DVDs and video games. On this sun-blazing early afternoon, however, young fans came in droves to see the action live as one youth-oriented feature of Billy Graham's three-day crusade in Queens.”It's more exciting than church,” admitted Ianni Economou, 11, an alter boy at Flushing's Greek Orthodox St. Nicholas church. After defeating Rapscallion and protecting the faith-based roots of society, Bibleman stood before an alter on stage that read “Put on the full armor of God” and asked his pre-teen audience to close their eyes and bow their heads. “This is the most important decision you'll make in your life: whether you want to make Jesus your best friend,” Bibleman said. “If you accept him, you can be Bibleman.”Ianni then lifted his chin from his chest, stood up and walked with the others in search of a spiritual counselor to make his commitment.Jason Qi, of Forest Hills, said he and his wife were not religious but went to the crusade at the urging of their 6-year-old son.And this was the point, Robert Brockett said, a counselor supervisor and father of two sons now dressed in their hero's Power Ranger-like costume — to get them interested early on.”Look at society the way it is,” he said. “The kids are looking for something tangible to grab on to. So we offer them this instead of society's drugs and crime.”Pointing to the alter, he added: “That's what we do. We suit up with the armor of God.”Reach reporter Zach Patberg by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
